Pets rescued from North Side fire, no other injuries

Updated 6:03 pm, Sunday, August 10, 2014

San Antonio fire crews fight a blaze in the 200 block of East Craig Place on the North Side on Sunday afternoon, Aug. 10, 2014.

San Antonio fire crews fight a blaze in the 200 block of East Craig Place on the North Side on Sunday afternoon, Aug. 10, 2014.

Photo: J. Almendarez/San Antonio Express-News

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Residents hold their puppy close while San Antonio fire crews fight a blaze in the 200 block of East Craig Place on the North Side on Sunday afternoon, Aug. 10, 2014.

Residents hold their puppy close while San Antonio fire crews fight a blaze in the 200 block of East Craig Place on the North Side on Sunday afternoon, Aug. 10, 2014.

Photo: J. Almendarez/San Antonio Express-News

Image 3 of 9

San Antonio fire crews fight a blaze in the 200 block of East Craig Place on the North Side on Sunday afternoon, Aug. 10, 2014.

San Antonio fire crews fight a blaze in the 200 block of East Craig Place on the North Side on Sunday afternoon, Aug. 10, 2014.

Photo: J. Almendarez/San Antonio Express-News

Image 4 of 9

San Antonio fire crews fight a blaze in the 200 block of East Craig Place on the North Side on Sunday afternoon, Aug. 10, 2014.

San Antonio fire crews fight a blaze in the 200 block of East Craig Place on the North Side on Sunday afternoon, Aug. 10, 2014.

Photo: J. Almendarez/San Antonio Express-News

Image 5 of 9

San Antonio fire crews fight a blaze in the 200 block of East Craig Place on the North Side on Sunday afternoon, Aug. 10, 2014.

San Antonio fire crews fight a blaze in the 200 block of East Craig Place on the North Side on Sunday afternoon, Aug. 10, 2014.

Photo: J. Almendarez/San Antonio Express-News

Image 6 of 9

San Antonio fire crews rest while fighting a blaze in the 200 block of East Craig Place on the North Side on Sunday afternoon, Aug. 10, 2014. Temperatures were at 97 degrees around the time of the fire, according to the National Weather Service. less

San Antonio fire crews rest while fighting a blaze in the 200 block of East Craig Place on the North Side on Sunday afternoon, Aug. 10, 2014. Temperatures were at 97 degrees around the time of the fire, ... more

Photo: J. Almendarez/San Antonio Express-News

Image 7 of 9

San Antonio fire crews fight a blaze in the 200 block of East Craig Place on the North Side on Sunday afternoon, Aug. 10, 2014.

San Antonio fire crews fight a blaze in the 200 block of East Craig Place on the North Side on Sunday afternoon, Aug. 10, 2014.

Photo: J. Almendarez/San Antonio Express-News

Image 8 of 9

Two dogs and a cat were carried out of the fire in the 200 block of East Craig Place, and were reunited with their owners. The building's 10-15 residents were able to make it safely outside.

Two dogs and a cat were carried out of the fire in the 200 block of East Craig Place, and were reunited with their owners. The building's 10-15 residents were able to make it safely outside.

Photo: J. Almendarez/San Antonio Express-News

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Pets rescued from North Side fire, no other injuries

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SAN ANTONIO — A fire at a two-story building on the North Side blazed for almost an hour and half before fire fighters were able to tame it enough to begin entering the building to eliminate “hot spots.”

The fire happened at a multi-unit home at 2 p.m. on the 200 block of East Craig Place where 10-15 residents were able to make it safely outside.

Assistant Fire Department Chief Oscar Gonzalez said the extreme temperatures Sunday afternoon combined with the building’s mostly wooden structure and metal portions of the roof made the blaze especially difficult to put out.

“There’s a lot of places that the fire can hide,” he said.

Gonzalez said the primary search of the building led him to believe all the residents made it out and added that efforts were being made to save as many pets as possible.

Two dogs and a cat were carried out of the building and were reunited with their owners.

He said the fire and water damage contributed to at least a 50 percent loss at the residence, but is not sure about the estimated cost.

He also said the fire appears to have started at the back of the building and moved into the attic, but could not comment about how the blaze started.

Dave Sanchez, 29, lived in the residence with roommates and said they were able to evacuate with their two dogs after a neighbor knocked on their door to tell them the smoky smell in the air was their building on fire.

“I heard some pops. I don’t know what those were,” he said.

He does not know where he and his roommates will stay now, but says he’s relieved no one was hurt and that he was able to grab his pets.

“Just the dog, that’s all I really care about,” he said.

The property owner was detained by the San Antonio Police Department at the scene for being “combative.”

She declined to give her name, but said she was concerned about flames she saw under a nearby vehicle.

“I saw the car was on fire and they didn’t even know it,” she said.

She was released after the fire was extinguished and faces no charges.

Television reports say a man might have stood on the roof and started the fire, but the San Antonio Fire Department has not confirmed those reports.

jalmendarez@express-news.net

Twitter: @jalmendarez57

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